Great in college, forgettable in the pros

CaptionRyan Leaf

Cascade County Sherrif's Office

Yeah, that's an arrest photo. And the guy in it is Ryan Leaf. When he wasn't doing drugs and robbing homes, way back when he was a quarterback at Washington State and a Heisman finalist. He was taken second overall by San Diego in the 1998 NFL Draft right after Peyton Manning. Let's just say it...

Yeah, that's an arrest photo. And the guy in it is Ryan Leaf. When he wasn't doing drugs and robbing homes, way back when he was a quarterback at Washington State and a Heisman finalist. He was taken second overall by San Diego in the 1998 NFL Draft right after Peyton Manning. Let's just say it... (Cascade County Sherrif's Office)

Former Bulls sharpshooter Steve Kerr once described Ohio State product Greg Oden as a "once-in-a-decade player." The rest of the NBA world thought so too. The Portland Trail Blazers. They took Oden No. 1 overall in 2007. During his NBA career he has had more knee injuries than points (not...

Former Bulls sharpshooter Steve Kerr once described Ohio State product Greg Oden as a "once-in-a-decade player." The rest of the NBA world thought so too. The Portland Trail Blazers. They took Oden No. 1 overall in 2007. During his NBA career he has had more knee injuries than points (not... (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Mark Prior needed a wheelbarrow to haul all his collegiate player of the year trophies around when he was pitching for USC. He was considered by most to be the top prospect in the 2001 MLB draft. He had a mid-90s fastball. And really, really big calves. What's not to love? But a string of...

Mark Prior needed a wheelbarrow to haul all his collegiate player of the year trophies around when he was pitching for USC. He was considered by most to be the top prospect in the 2001 MLB draft. He had a mid-90s fastball. And really, really big calves. What's not to love? But a string of... (Tribune photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo)

McNown is the Pac-12's all-time offensive leader. The quarterback was a first-team All-American. In short, he could do really cool things with a football ... until the Bears got their hands on him. He was drafted 12th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft. The Bears traded him in 2001 after he threw 16...

McNown is the Pac-12's all-time offensive leader. The quarterback was a first-team All-American. In short, he could do really cool things with a football ... until the Bears got their hands on him. He was drafted 12th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft. The Bears traded him in 2001 after he threw 16...

Curtis Enis spent his entire career with the Bears ... and rushed for a grand total of four touchdowns in three seasons. Not what you want out of your No. 5 draft pick and a former first-team all-everything at Penn State.

Curtis Enis spent his entire career with the Bears ... and rushed for a grand total of four touchdowns in three seasons. Not what you want out of your No. 5 draft pick and a former first-team all-everything at Penn State.

All this Derrick Rose jazz can be frustrating. We get it. But look on the bright side: the Bulls could have taken Kansas State’s Michael Beasley with the No. 1 pick in 2008. Yikes. Beasley hasn't really panned out. Not even close. He’s one example of many great college athletes...By Riley Blevins, RedEye